Chapter 5

You need to calm down Harper. Elle spoke.

Her voice louder than ever now that I was in my wolf form.

I let out a loud howl as I felt my paws beating on the ground, the wind zipping past me as I ran faster and faster as if this would make my problems disappear.

How dare he? Daniel Thorpe, showing up at my mating ceremony. What the heck made him think he could do that after betraying me? After all this time?

Maybe he has a good reason. Elle tried to reason.

I scoffed. Yeah, right.

I knew the only reason Dan could be here was tp distract me. To pull my focus and concentration.

I stopped and shut my eyes picturing my father's body in these very woods.

It could have been the Thorpes this entire time. I thought back to the smug look on Daniel's mother's face. Greta Thorpe had always despised me and my family.

I wouldn't put it past her to have orchestrated my father's death. I wouldn't put it past him either.

But... he once loved you. Elle reminded me.

I thought about how he had looked at me in the ballroom, uninterested. Like it didn't really matter whether I was there or not.

Daniel Thorpe never loved me. And he had proven that by betraying me all those years ago.

I felt an ache in my chest like I was seventeen again and the heartbreak was still fresh.

He had shattered my heart into a million pieces all those years ago. Now he thought he could just stroll in and claim he wanted a chance at being my husband?

Not on my watch.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

When I got back to the castle I called my home, I shifted back into my human form and rushed to my room only to throw on a t shirt and baggy sweat pants.

There's only one place my mind was set on going.

I asked the ground master which room thsy had allocated to Daniel Thorpe and immediately made my way to the east wing.

When I found the room, I slammed the door open and wasted no time in pouncing on the bed pressing the dagger to this throat.

The pale beautiful man didn't so much as move or even open his eyes.

"You're not going to kill me Harp." He spoke in a lazy tone.

My body tensed at hearing the nickname escape his lips so effortlessly.

He had no right.

I pressed the dagger firmly to his skin until I saw a knick of blood.

"How do you know?" I threatened.

A ghost of a smile played on his lips.

"Because if you wanted to you would have done it years ago when you had the chance. When you had me in more... compromising positions."

I felt my body heat up to my annoyance.

But I couldn't help it. It knew him too well. Knew his voice... his touch.

Careful, girl. You might start drooling on him. Elle told me.

Shut up! I snapped at her mentally.

I pushed myself off the bed and stood over him, the dagger in my hand leveled at his throat.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded. "I want the real reason. Not the lie you told last night at the ball."

Dan sat up slowly. His dark hair was a mess from sleep, falling across his forehead somehow he still looked infuriatingly attractive.

Byt he was too calm considering I had a blade to his neck and all the power in this room.

“My mother made me come." He spoke gruffly.

“Lies.” I spoke immediately. “The Dan I knew didn’t take orders from anyone. Especially not her.”

“Things change.” He simply said.

My blood went hot. How could he sit there like this was a normal conversation? Like he hadn’t destroyed me three years ago and walked away.

“Get out of my house, Dan.” I yelled. “And drop out of the competition.”

“I can’t do that.” He protested.

“Why?” I demanded. “Why would you come here, of all places?”

His brown eyes finally met mine. The ache in my chest returned.

“My pack needs help too, Harper.”

I looked at the ground before turning to leave. I paused at the door.

“You should have thought of that before you betrayed me. Pack your things and leave. I want you and your witch of a mother gone before breakfast."

"Harp?" His voice called in a soft tone he once only reserved for me.

I felt myself stop and tense up but I didn't dare turn around.

"I'm sorry about your dad." He spoke.

His words shattered something in me. Not because I believed there was any sincerity in them. But because my heart desperatwly wanted to.

No but you will be. I thought to myself as I stepped out and slammed the door.

It had to be them. The Thorpes. They must have killed my father and now they were here to mess with my head and try to steal my crown.

Everyone knew the Black Moon pack had always hated ours.

No sooner had I stepped out od Dan's room than I saw a farmiliar red head appear.

Carlo.

"Harper?"

He had a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair was wet. An indication that he had just come out of ths shower.

He looked behind me at the room I had just come out of. Hurt flashed in his eyes but it was soon replaced by anger.

"What were you doing in there with him?" He yelled.

"Nothing." I grumbled walking past Carlo.

He rushed after me and took my hand spinning me around.

"Harper. You know what happened. What he did."

"I know." I snapped running my hand through my hair. "I'm not stupid."

And I wasn't that same naive teenager anymore.

I had a gameplan here. And so many things were suddenly popping up threatening to pull my focus. I looked up sharply at Carlo remembering he wasn't exactly innocent here.

"Why did you enter the competition?" I asked him in accusation. "Especially without telling me."

Carlo ran a hand through his wet hair sleeking it back. "Because I knew you'd say no." He spoke. He then suddenly stepped forward and wrapped an arm around my waist pulling me closer.

"And because I would rather die than see you with anyone else. Because, Harper. I love you."

My mouth dropped. Everythinh seemed to pause.

Did he just? Elle asked.

I swallowed hard. Yes. My best friend had just confessed that he loved me.

I backed away.

"You can't just... you can't just say stuff like that to me."